Final Blog

I must admit that when I first learned that this course had a mandatory blog, I was reluctant to accept it.  I have never really liked sitting in front of the computer and writing my thoughts.  Who wants to know them anyway?  My thinking has definitely changed through this course. 

I know that there are many ways I can use a blog when I have my own classroom.  I actually want to develop one now!  I would like to make it a communication board.  I plan on having all the weekly lessons and homework accessible to students and their parents.  I would also like the blog to be a class project.  I will have a weekly editor, reporter designer and proofreader to ensure classroom participation.  This will give my students ownership of their education. 

I am now glad for the blog component of this course.  Without it, I would have never seen the value it can bring to my classroom and the resource it could become for families.

Lesson 7

After reading and pondering the debate about teens lacking adult reasoning capacity, yet being held to adult consequences, what do you think this means for you as a teacher?

We tend to forget just how much of a gap there is between how quickly a child's body matures and how quickly the brain matures.   When we stop and think about this gap, adults can understand it's existence.  If we forget about it, we will constantly be saying "they should know better."  A young adult may have been taught right from wrong, but that doesn't mean he or she really understands the consequences that come with certain actions.  As a teacher keeping in mind that teens lack the adult reasoning skills even though they have bodies that look very much adult-like will help me to find the right consequences that will make an impact on teenagers and still help them continue to grow and mature. 

Lesson 6

After watching the videos on Math and Music, how does this information impact you as a teacher?

Math and music are complementary subjects.  Both are made up of patterns, sequencing and counting.  Knowing that math and music help strengthen student achievement is important for teachers.  I will encourage my students to learn a musical instrument or participate in singing activities.  I will also use music after teaching a lesson to help students process that lesson. 

Fostering the connections needed for math and not just relying on rote memorization of math facts will help students become better at math.  Using music is one way to help strengthen those brain connections.  As a teacher, I must make sure to help my students understand how mat applies to life and show them how often math is used every day.  I must also accept a child’s natural ability with numbers even if this means that he or she uses fingers for calculation.   It is nice to know that there are many websites and programs out there that will assist me.  These websites, such as mathisfun.com, can give me ideas and help encourage my students to enjoy math.

Lesson 5

1.     After watching the videos on Language and Reading, how does this information impact you as a teacher?

    Understanding language development and how children acquire language is critical for teachers.  Language and reading go hand-in-hand with children.  When a parent or teacher is reading aloud to a young child,  not only is the child building language skills, but he or she is building reading skills as well.  

    As a teacher, I will make sure to have reading materials available to my students at all times.  I want to have books written in many different languages in my classroom.  Knowing that 65% of fourth grade students do not read at grade level, will make me work harder to make sure that all students in my class get adequate reading practice and that I as a teacher read to my students each day.  It doesn't matter how old a child is, having someone read to him or her can only build and strengthen the child's own reading skills.